Sunday, 14 December 2008

Serie A - Week 16: Sunday Review

Juventus emerged winners in the tussle for second spot in Serie A with a crushing 4-2 victory over AC Milan, leaving them six points behind frontrunners Inter, who triumphed by the same scoreline over Chievo. There were thrilling games elsewhere as Roma beat Cagliari 3-2 and Lazio came back from 3-0 down to draw.

JUVENTUS 4-2 AC MILANJuventus won the battle of the two challengers to Inter's current domination of Serie A with a convincing 4-2 win over AC Milan. Alessandro Del Piero opened the scoring with a penalty after 15 minutes before Alexandre Pato equalised after half an hour. Giorgio Chiellini restored the hosts' advantage within minutes and Amauri ensured their domination was reflected by the 3-1 scoreline at half-time. Massimo Ambrosini gave Milan some unexpected hope after 56 minutes, but that was dashed when former Juve defender Gianluca Zambrotta was sent off 10 minutes later and Amauri added his second and Juve's fourth 20 minutes from time. The win lifts Juve to within six points of Inter, leaving Milan and Napoli three points in their wake.

INTER 4-2 CHIEVOInter maintained their six-point lead at the top of Serie A after battling past Chievo 4-2 at the San Siro. All seemed to be going to the form book when the leaders established a 2-0 lead against the rock-bottom side from Verona through Maxwell and Dejan Stankovic. But Chievo hit back and drew level thanks to efforts from Sergio Pellissier and Simone Bentivoglio. Zlatan Ibrahimovic came to Inter's rescue, though, the Sweden striker netting twice in the last 11 minutes - either side of Chievo's Santiago Morero seeing red - to move Jose Mourinho's men SIX points clear.

ROMA 3-2 CAGLIARIMirko Vucinic bagged a last-gasp winner as Roma earned their fifth consecutive Serie A triumph to stun Cagliari 3-2 at the Stadio Olimpico. Francesco Totti had put the Eternal City giants on their way after 39 minutes, but Cagliari had other ideas as former Roma midfielder Daniele Conti levelled on the hour mark and Jeda put the visitors in front 11 minutes later. However, Roma reacted with Simone Perrotta making it 2-2 with 13 minutes left to play and Cagliari failed to hold on as the Vucinic struck in the 90th minute to hand the hosts a victory and move them to 10th in the standings. Vucinic celebrated the winner by stripping down to his underwear.

UDINESE 3-3 LAZIOLazio staged a stunning fightback to wipe out a three-goal deficit and earn a 3-3 draw at Udinese. The game looked over 10 minutes into the second period with the hosts in complete control thanks to two goals from Antonio Di Natale either side of a Fabio Quagliarella strike. But led by half-time substitutes Mourad Meghni and Goran Pandev, the Biancoceleste hit back. Mauro Zarate pulled one back on the hour mark and Modibo Diakite reduced the deficit further with 18 minutes to go. Cristian Ledesma netted a dramatic equaliser with a 30-yard drive after 85 minutes to complete a stunning turnaround.

FIORENTINA 2-0 CATANIAFiorentina were made to work hard for a 2-0 victory in an entertaining encounter against mid-table Catania at the Stadio Artemio Franchi. Romanian forward Adrian Mutu finally broke the deadlock 10 minutes into the second half for the Viola and strike partner Alberto Gilardino doubled the lead with 10 minutes remaining, while substitute Stevan Jovetic hit the post.

REGGINA 0-2 SAMPDORIASampdoria pulled away from the bottom of Serie A after registering their first away victory this season at Reggina, who remain deep in trouble. The hosts had the better of the first half but could not break the deadlock and their visitors from Genoa sealed victory with two goals in the last 15 minutes. Claudio Bellucci opened the scoring from the penalty spot after dangerman Antonio Cassano had been fouled, with Marco Padalino converting the second after more good work from Cassano.

GENOA 1-1 ATALANTAGenoa and Atalanta shared the spoils in a dramatic 1-1 draw at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris. Three players were sent off in the second half before Genoa's Giuseppe Sculli cancelled out Sergio Floccari's 17th-minute opener three minutes from the end. Gianpaolo Bellini and Claudio Rivalta both saw red for Atalanta while the home side lost Omar Milanetto as tempers reached boiling point in a game played in difficult conditions.

PALERMO 2-0 SIENAPalermo showed they are more than just a one-man team as a goal in each half sent them to a comfortable 2-0 victory over Siena whose dismal away record continues. Suspended star striker Fabrizio Miccoli, whose goals have led to most of Palermo's points this season, was forced to watch from the stands. However, apart from a nervy opening few minutes, Palermo showed they are more than capable of coping in his absence as Mattia Cassani fired them into the lead on the half-hour mark before Fabio Simplicio doubled their advantage nine minutes after the break.

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